One of my readers was nice enough to send this to me. It is a campaign sign for Republican supervisor candidates in Easttown has been driving me crazy since they started to go up.
Why has it been driving me crazy?
Simple. There is NO EIT IN EASTTOWN TOWNSHIP! EIT was discussed and my memory recall said it was withdrawn. So I asked a couple of Easttown meeting watchdogs and this was the response I got:
Yes. You are correct. They still have to fund first responders so they are doing it through property taxes. Residents in Easttown pay more than $2m in EIT to other townships and none is recaptured.
So in Easttown, I thinking on election day that you do not wish to vote for the candidates who should be wearing Dumb and Dumber t-shirts.
So it’s been a long week. On Thursday I had post cancer reconstructive surgery on the back of my head. I have the back of my head shaved larger than a softball section and I have a lot of stitches and I have a lot of pain.
But because I’m already immuno compromised, I vote by mail. I voted, and my vote was counted. I always vote so imagine my surprise when I get this mailing from someplace called the Center for Voter Information in Harrisburg.
This is the freakiest big brother is watching you thing I have gotten in quite a while. Allow me to quote the mailing:
Public records indicate that you are eligible to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Who are you vote for is private, but if you vote is a matter of public record.
We’re sending this mailing to you and your neighbors to share who does, and does not vote in an effort to promote election participation. While we have hidden the name and street address of your neighbors, to protect their privacy, these are their true voting records.
We will be reviewing these records, after the election to determine whether or not, you joined your neighbors in voting.
I vote every election cycle. So at the letter at the opening of this post, it’s my name at the top, and my name at top of voter chart, so why they’re sending it to me I have no idea. And it’s none of my business if my neighbors do or don’t all vote every election. For the most part they do.
But to get a piece of mail like this is something that makes you feel like your privacy has been invaded even though the fact that you vote, or don’t vote is indeed a matter of public record,
So what am I supposed to do hobble around after surgery to all of my neighbors and knock on their doors and say hey are you the one that only voted for this election and are you the one that missed that election?
In my humble opinion, this doesn’t encourage anyone to vote this is like a visit from big brother you can do without so Gail Kitch whoever you are you can fuck off.
Not a fan of Shaun Walsh and have no clue about Nate Wolman other than he is their auditor now running for Supervisor.
A friend sent me these pictures that they took. I’m sorry they didn’t tell me the road, not that it matters because it’s just FLAT OUT WRONG.
Some wonder if this is an employee doing this, what do you think? Honestly, after reading the press release, I am posting below from the local GOP as in West Goshen not county I’ll have to wonder if this is a political ploy?
I am not a fan of West Goshen in general because it really is It’s always shady in West Goshen Township. BUT these people didn’t murder anyone. The current township manager whom I was not enthused over Bashore when he was in Malvern Borough but he didn’t do anything wrong. He put a stop to something that never EVER should’ve happened in the first place and when you read this press release from the village idiots known as the West Goshen Republican Committee it’s like they’re saying it’s OK to do shady things? So the West Goshen Republican Committee says it OK to deceive the residents like this? But hey remember their recent raffle?
So is defacing these signs is a political ploy of the Republicans? I mean, read this press release and tell me releasing that and defacing the candidate signs occurring is a coincidence? Or is it an employee and local GOP joint project?
Whatever the motive is, whomever wrote on the signs is wrong. And I would say the police should look into it, but that only happens if the homeowners call and complain about their signs being defaced.
So you know I’m pro-farmer as in real farmers not faux farmers. And something no one has picked up on this election season is there is not one, but two farmers running in East Goshen Township for supervisor.
One we all know because he almost lost part of his land to eminent domain (Pete Hicks) for the path to nowhere and the other is the farm next-door farmer neighbor and friend (Sean Ellsworth).
I think this is awesome and if you are in East Goshen I think you should vote for
#farmertakeover
It would be nice to live in a world once again where the thought of more farms, less townhouses and farms, less apartment buildings was a better plan. Now, these two men can’t unring any development bells already rung, but because their business is farming, they have a greater appreciation in my humble opinion of what’s important in Chester County.
Preserving what made Chester County Chester County is what we have to do before it is lost forever.
People, this is what I’m talking about. These are two men who were not politically inclined, but who have stepped up to run for supervisor because they see change is needed. The impetus here was East Goshen Township failed eminent domain attempt. They can phrase it however, they want in the township building and that they “unwound“ it, but that will never ever change what those supervisors did in East Goshen.
So these are gentlemen who already lead busy lives who are stepping up to the plate for public service because they know it’s the right thing to do.
Well it’s a good thing they can’t take away my choice for political party in Chester County, I suppose. Because I am of a mind to “tease out” some more…..it’s generally speaking not helpful for a woman to be a tease, but when it comes to politics, perhaps there are exceptions?
Let’s start with by laws. Local chapters of political parties are supposed to post them. The current Chester County Democratic Committee Secretary is Alex Teplyakov, right? This is the officer responsible for producing the by laws, correct? The NEW CCDC website does NOT post them, as a matter of fact the new website is so dumbed down third graders might take offense, but hey maybe that is me just taking issue with assuming the Democrats at large in Chester County are sheeple and will all do as their told. (Didn’t work so well for the Chester County Republicans when they were leading the county, did it?)
Anyway, anyway, there is the OLD website buried within the new website. I find that both sloppy and a goldmine. Let’s begin with the last publicly published by laws I can find from I guess 2019?
So has young Alex Teplyakov ever actually published the current by laws? Are there current by laws? I mean what are the current by laws? I hear that is a burning question often asked all over Chester County by Democrats in various areas? Is it is a state secret? Are the by laws in witness protection?
So since the by laws are not posted any longer on the sparkly new dumbed down website is this a consciousness of guilt to REMOVE the by laws if they were already and previously posted? I am telling you this is indeed a Nancy Drew Mystery –The Mystery of The Disappearing By Laws
So was no longer having by laws on the new website voted on? Or were new by laws never actually voted on or approved? I got my paws on proposed 2023 by laws, but what did the state actually say and is the Chester County Democratic Committee actually adhering to what the state committee actually dictates? I mean isn’t this a case of what the state says goes? I ask because I do not know, hence the questions. So what did the state Dems actually say??
Here is this draft by laws thing from at some point this year I guess it was?
Can we talk a smidge about these new proposed 2023 by laws that no one is quite sure are approved?
SECTION 3. General Disqualification. No person shall be eligible to hold any CCDC position who:
….b) has entered into an agreement with an opponent or opponent(s) of the Democratic Party to support such opponents;
….“ The County Chair and County Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer need not be members of the County committee at the time of their election”
SECTION 3. County Chair. …… shall see that all orders, resolutions and the Bylaws are carried into effect and performed in a lawful manner…
….SECTION 6. Conflicts with Endorsed Candidate. Where an elected or appointed Zone Leader or Assistant Zone Leader believes that they cannot support a duly endorsed Democratic candidate for personal or professional reasons, that Zone Leader or Assistant Zone Leader shall resign their leadership position upon submitting a letter of resignation to the County Chair within ten (10) days after the Nomination Endorsement Convention where the candidate was endorsed. The Zone shall elect replacements of Zone Leader or Assistant Zone Leader in accordance with Article XI, Section 2.
~2023 draft CCDC By LAWS
Truck to drive through these, anyone? Go through entire document. One thing that is astounding is NO definition of “opponent”. Opponent could be the garbage collector. Ambiguities in this construed against the drafter, right? Could we not hypothesize then that some of the emails that have leaked out penned by Grandma Charlotte violates things and makes HER an “opponent” of the CCDC who needs replacing? (Hey kids, have at it, right?) So to my mind that charming excerpt in Section 6 basically means if you don’t endorse or campaign for who we want you to endorse you’re a goner? How is that legit, legal, ok with state Democrats?
Soooo…for the proposed by laws whom is the author? Is it the current CCDC Solicitor Elizabeth Swain?
I am of course wondering as are many how Ms. Swain can be the solicitor of the Chester County Democrats AND a committee chair? Shouldn’t it be she is either ONE or the OTHER but NOT BOTH? I am not a lawyer, and I don’t play one on the Internet BUT one I know said a lawyer can’t represent the client and also be a potential witness and what do people who know election law think or whom are lawyers? I mean isn’t that just kinda sorta an untenable conflict that doesn’t work?
One of the things bugging me is although the CCDC proclaimed THIS below on their old website, which kind of flies in the face of Grandma Charlotte’s new world order doesn’t it?
Chesco Dems are always looking for passionate, committed people to seek public positions. We recruit and train the highest caliber candidates and provide logistic support to their campaigns. As a Democrat, have you ever considered running for office? Or do you have a Democratic friend, family member, or neighbor who you think would be GREAT for one of the positions on this year’s ballot? We look forward to hearing from you.
Or at the municipal level, contact your local zone. Remember that municipal and school board positions often open up due to resignations, and then the seats are filled by appointment and/or at the next election, so it is good to be prepared.
I mean they SAY they want people to run, but if you aren’t decreed okay by the controlling cabal then where are you? Example number one is a woman who SHOULD be on November’s ballot, Magisterial District Justice Paige Simmons. Ginny Kerslake also comes to mind, who is an amazing woman. She literally has everything they say they want, only she terrifies them essentially for having a brain and a spine and isn’t afraid to show it. Danielle Friel Otten also comes to mind, which is why they are perennially passive aggressive with her and always trying to primary her with temporarily bright shiny objects…err candidates. Or another recent example would be when Libby Madarasz was going to primary Theresa Hogan Santalucia in West Whiteland. No one else had stepped up, and it was enough to make Saint Theresa of West Whiteland come up with “health reasons” to not run again didn’t it? She would not have survived being primaried by ANYONE including Jo Ann Kelton who MAGICALLY popped up seeming like minutes after Libby Madarasz was going to run and said SHE was going to run for Supervisor in West Whiteland? Are we all that naiive that Ms. Kelton popping up was just a coincidence? I think not. I think that was contrived and I am allowed to have that OPINION, yes? Mrs. Madarasz yielded gracefully to Ms. Kelton who does have experience as a current Zoning Hearing Board, a former Planning Commission member, and a long-time committee person for the West Whiteland Democrats. But Ms. Kelton is in her 70s so will she have the stamina for being a Supervisor? Not my township, and hopefully she will be better that Saint Theresa, right?
Other things I am curious about are the values documents on old website, but not new. Is the committee in it’s current executive iteration actually living their espoused values?
And why is there a new treasurer? I thought Ms. Baxter was doing such a wonderful job?
Look at this point, people could sit with a magnifying glass to Sherlock Holmes the Chester County Democratic Committee. It seems fraught with issues, doesn’t it? Kind of sad since they worked so hard to attain their majority?
Final thoughts? People are correct that politics did not cause Danelo Cavalcante to escape from prison. However, there are indeed potential political consequences.
I am but one woman, one voice. The Chester County Democratic Committe and their they can do no wrong cheerleaders have fingernails all poised to claw at me at every turn and why is it so bad to ask questions?
People, I do not pretend to know everything, but I am perennially curious about the inner machinations of politics. That is as American as Apple Pie. That’s how this country was founded.
I am who I am. So now the Chester County Democrats perceive me as public enemy number one for being essentially an inconvenient Democrat. Like I said before it takes me back to 2013 when it was declared I was a tea partier.
Yesterday I offered public comment at the beginning of the Prison Board Meeting in West Chester:
Well then when the rest of public comment rolled around up popped two ride or die Democrats who not only seemingly leave no room for independent thought as well as no room for anyone to challenge the machine, which was rather ironic considering who one of the speakers was and how she was treated in the past by this very county party and I supported her. That is kind of sad, right? I think so.
Now while I respect these women for speaking on what they believe to be true even if people disagree, I don’t respect misquoting me from the same meeting barely an hour before if that. And the passive aggressive “teased out” of it all made me laugh out loud and if I open my mouth for public comment anything, I do my homework ahead of time.
So I offered rebuttal. I do not like being misquoted or a victim of a sniper attack from other Democrats because they think people owe abject loyalty to political parties at all times no matter what even if that kind of makes something more of a cult instead of a functioning political party:
So I have been thinking about this. What does it mean to be a Democrat in Chester County if they attack you for being independent minded? Doesn’t that make them everything they said they wouldn’t be when they took majority in Chester County?
I point you back to JudgeGate from the spring 2023 primaries.
And speaking of JudgeGate will we have StateRepGate again next primary season? Seems like Grandma Charlotte erstwhile head of the Chester County Democrats is at it again? Just visit this website to see. Now this is a person who ran unsuccessfully for Downingtown Borough Council in 2015. She’s part of Mid Chesco Dems, AKA where some of Grandma Charlotte’s filing five came from when they did Paige Simmons dirty in May. (Which was withdrawn in June.)
So unlike others, I pay attention to whom decides to follow me on socials, especially if they are very chirpy. All of a sudden this new Chesco Dem was following. So I kept an eye peeled. And she is running for State Rep. She is a Democrat. She has headshots out there and then there is her Twitter handle and her friends announcing on message boards that she is running for State Rep. That would put her in Legislative District 155, or Danielle Friel Otten’s district.
It doesn’t take new math to figure out this chick has her eyeballs focused on Danielle’s seat, does it? It also doesn’t take much of a reach to figure Grandma Charlotte Valyo of the Chesco Dems must have her paws in this somewhere, does it? So they are gearing up for more Dirty Dems Primary Tricks Done Dirt Cheap, eh? And it’s not like they haven’t done this before, right? I will say sorry if I am wrong, but past being prologue and all say I am right, doesn’t it? We have recent shenanigans and then the others they have primaried against Danielle Otten like Rose Hogan Danese.
Oh and I mentioned JudgeGate in the spring primary, but there was another JudgeGate this summer wasn’t there? Something about just endorsing current sitting GOP judges? Kind of funny after they went after a fellow Democrat who is a Magisterial District Justice who was looking to run for Common Pleas in the spring?
And now this other thing related to that – a rumor of planning to do the sample ballot to the entire county on behalf of CCDC leaving judicial retention question blank? Supposedly local areas/zones are losing their minds because they want to vote NO on the Republican and Indie candidates there, because well Democrats are supposed to elect Democrats, and Republicans wouldn’t support a Democrat, etc? But Grandma Charlotte supposedly thinks this might still achieve retaining the Republican judges? Now to be honest, I have Republican judges I will vote for, but I don’t run the party and that is my personal choice as an inveterate ticket splitter, so Grandma Charlotte are you all there? Je ne comprends pas.
All this strife and controversy from within the Chester County Democrats since Grandma Charlotte Valyo took the wheel, isn’t there? Does she think it’s Phoenixville Country Club or something? She and her hubs were on the board during that whole space oddity of the bailout of that club once upon a time, right? I mean for what the bailout was, isn’t it still surprising that is not a public course since government monies from Schuylkill Township bailed them out? We the people and all that jazz?
The Chester County Democrats always SAY they are different from the GOP but when they do the same stupid tricks now that they are in power are they actually different? Inquiring minds want to know. Want to know what I think?
I think power always corrupts and political power is no different. I think with every leadership change with the Chester County Democrats there is not enough cleaning house of deadwood and the past people who made local paper headlines are still too involved in the running of the party and I am allowed that opinion. I think independent thinking is discouraged and everyone is supposed to walk lock step with whatever leadership is word salading that day, week, hour.
So am I surprised that the claws came out at me at the meeting yesterday? Nope. The Chester County Democratic Committee is like Project Runway: one day you are in, the next day you are out.
Obviously I am out. I was ok to Democrats as an inconvenient Republican, but I am not ok as an inconvenient Democrat. Thanks kids, duly noted, and perhaps Independent is in my future except then I lose right to primary voting.
But their nasty Project Runway behavior seems to be constant and can it be said only pet committee people and zone folks aren’t harangued? I point you to the pet squad of Mid Chester County Dems in particular. Freedom, fairness, opportunity is somewhat subjective with Grandma Charlotte, yes?
I am beginning to feel like the Chester County Democratic Committee want us to be like 1950s housewives: obedient and silent. Sorry doesn’t work for me. And aeresol hairspray isn’t environmentally friendly and went out with Barbara Hafer circa late 1980s- 1990s.
I have a theory. I think there needs to be new leadership with Chesco Dems and a housecleaning of old leadership hanging about. They have become so much like what they criticized and replaced that if that doesn’t happen, mediocrity will reign supreme. Without change there will not be growth. And Chester County Democrats need to grow away from all the current petty bullshit. And there is too much petty bullshit which comes from the top as acceptable behavior. They will have kittens over my opinions on this and I will get nasty comments, but so what? I became a Democrat because I thought they would actually live their mission and they are not. It’s that simple.
All Democrats are not welcomed equally is the clear message. Individuality is not welcome. And they tell their committee people whom they want endorsed. There really is no natural selection, it is pre-ordained.
And I am not letting the Republicans of Chester County off of the hook, either. Most of what CCDC is playing at is out of the age old playbook of the RCCC. It’s all stupid, kind of like their QAnon Princess West Goshen Republican Committeeperson Ada Nestor and her latest obsession: saying Chester County is a Sanctuary County. And also saying that Chester County Prison doesn’t work with ICE. The prison follows the law, they work with federal officials…they have to. And then there is the latest fakakta lawsuit. And the fact that they try to hide it, but still very much cater to extremism groups including those poorly disguised as suburban moms like it is totally normal for a soccer mom to show up at school board meetings in a gas mask, right?
I guess I am waiting for Chester County Democratic Committee and the Republican Committee of Chester County to stop acting like teenage mutant ninja turtles with vertigo and blindfolds. Both parties need work. But the Chester County Democratic Committee should be ashamed of themselves for becoming exactly what they said they wouldn’t when they attained their historic majority. Here’s an idea Chesco Dems: ditch current leadership and their gross and continual stupidity and try to keep your majority because after all, elections are also like Project Runway: one day you’re in, the next day you’re out.
Those who want to tell me how wrong I am? Save your breath. You will need it when I can say told you so, and that day is coming if you don’t get it together.
I can’t take credit for this. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine this morning, and this came up.
Elections are coming and we get the government we deserve.
What does that mean? It’s pretty simple actually.
There are plenty of bad candidates on both sides of the aisle that shouldn’t be elected to any level of elected office. But people talk a good game, and then they don’t go to the polls. Or they vote how they are told by their particular political party.
If you want better government, we need balance. And in order to get balance, it means you can’t depend on political parties (and candidates) shoving sample ballots, even illegal sample ballots under your nose, you have to do your own research.
So do your own research. And if a politician sounds too good to be true a lot of the time they are and then there are the charlatans. I won’t mention any specific charlatans, but you know I have a couple in mind. (They are Chester County Republicans.)
And if you are a Democrat in Chester County one of my favorite charlatans is named Charlotte. Charlotte Valyo who is the current bad chair of The Chester County Democratic Committee. Now the irony is that they have this thing on their website:
We’re fired up and ready to go! We’re your friends, family and neighbors who are empowering voters and grassroots supporters. We’re fighting for a brighter future for all Americans, and organizing in every corner of our great county. Join us!
~ Chester County Democratic Committee
And yes, at present I am a registered Democrat. However, that above is a large load of happy horse shit. They only want you to do what they want you to do. They don’t want grass roots. They don’t want independent candidates they don’t even want current elected officials who are independent minded ….and yes Charlotte we KNOW what you’re up to.
The Chester County Democratic Committee also now that they are the party in control of the county seems to specialize in dirty tricks, especially in primary season, but you have to pay attention all year long. And I think what needs to happen is you need to cut off the head of the snake and get rid of the deadwood that is still hanging around that are former snakeheads that have been cut off. So Charlotte and others need to go.
So the Chesco GOP is all for rights, but they support the rights of people who think our rights are subjective. They have committee people who are constantly promoting incorrect conspiracy theories on the Internet. They cater to extremism groups and they don’t vet their candidates and they can’t even find good candidates. So half of the reason I can’t support a lot of their candidates even if I was a Republican, is I do not feel that my inalienable rights are subjective.
INALIENABLE RIGHTS. All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights which include the right of pursuing life’s basic necessities, of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and of seeking their safety, health and happiness in all lawful ways.
We are a country designed on a two party system. This whomever gets all the toys wins is not working for anyone. And the way the Chesco Dems are acting while in control is the way the Chesco GOP acted when they were in control.
So how do we the literal people win? Do your homework. Check out candidates on your own and remember off year election cycles are important because it lets starter politicians you don’t want in office anywhere get in the door of local school districts via school boards…you know like the fake professor in the DASD? (Gosh what pejorative term will he attempt to attach to me this week for mentioning but not mentioning him? Can’t wait!)
Don’t be afraid to split your ticket because as a country, we were designed as a two party system and until we achieve balance, we are going to continue to achieve free fall.
Do your homework. If any of us continue to vote the way we are “told“ we all get what we deserve. Dare to be different. You don’t have to tell anyone. They don’t have hidden cameras watching you fill out your ballot or when you’re in the booth.
Danelo Cavalcante has been on the loose for NINE days. Nine. It’s kind of inconceivable that this is going on but it’s the real world so it happens. I still don’t understand how it happened from the perspective of it took that prison an hour to figure out he was gone? As of 5:30 PM , the AP is reporting the guard who was supposed to be watching was fired. Is this person the only head to roll here? What about whoever was on duty in May when the other guy escaped or in 2019 when the other guy escaped the first time?
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — A prison tower guard has been fired after letting a murderer slip away on his watch in a brazen daytime escape, officials said Friday, as the nine-day-old search pressed on amid southeastern Philadelphia suburbs, farmland and a vast botanical garden.
News of the firing came as the searchers’ ranks grew overnight, focusing on the area around Longwood Gardens, where the fugitive inmate has been spotted before.
Danelo Souza Cavalcante, 34, escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison on Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police that he’s wanted over a killing in his home country of Brazil.
But there are other people that we haven’t heard from in this. We haven’t heard from board members of that prison who are elected officials in Chester County, seeking reelection and higher office. I’m speaking specifically about Chair of the Chester County Commissioners Marian Moscowitz and Sheriff Fredda Maddox, now judicial candidate.
I am asking this as a registered Democrat no less. It’s nothing personal but I think we haven’t heard from them and I know for one I would feel more comfortable if I heard anything coming out of their mouths on this issue and temporary new normal and all I hear are other people. It’s like they are leaving District Attorney Deb Ryan on her own, and I just don’t think that’s right.
The law-enforcement presence amped up further today, and these people are to be applauded even if they haven’t found Cavalcante yet. They are working their asses off. Which is more than you can say for the people at Chester County prison who let this happen in the first place.
I am sharing an excerpt from today’s Inquirer article and I will point out that the byline holder with Vinny Vella named Jesse Bunch is Inquirer legacy. I don’t know either of his parents, but I read and have read their articles and columns for years (his mom is retired from the paper.) This is a total non-related aside, but I think it’s pretty cool.
by Vinny Vella and Jesse Bunch Published Sep. 8, 2023, 4:45 p.m. ET
Nerves are frayed all over Chester County. You don’t have to be immediately in the vicinity with all the police activity to be concerned. This is our new normal right now but it’s anything but normal.
I hear the Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square is going on as planned this weekend, I almost think that’s kind of crazy at this point I wish they could postpone it until next weekend but I hope they have a good time.
Sorry I have been busy, therefore remiss in reporting on stupid is as stupid does surfaced once again in West Whiteland Township. The August 9th, 2023 meeting was in part, ridiculous. Saint Theresa of the Lame Duck and Raj Kumbhardare were in charge because Chair of the Supervisors, Brian Dunn was on vacation.
Well suffice it to say, you can definitely tell the difference in a well run meeting and a joke. And what was one of the topics of discussion? Essentially legitimizing Theresa playing mall cop at West Whiteland Community Day this summer.
Theresa Hogan Santalucia was a whirling dervish of rude and cray cray. She flipped out on the Republicans and Democrats who had tables set up a community day. there was no active campaigning going on. Political parties are part of the community at these events. They will have information for registering to vote, and usually something to eat. We’re not talking active politicking or campaigning here.
Above is the sign that she objected to for the West Whiteland Democrats. It was there exactly as is in 2022. She is still part of them, correct? There was a high school kid manning the table. A high school kid. If that was my kid, I’d be on the phone to the township asking what gave her the right to harangue a kid for doing a volunteer job, wouldn’t you?
Again, it was reported that she also went after Republicans, including a sitting judge. The judge was getting a lobster roll from the food truck and walking around. Such a threat, right?
I have some experience in the planning of and volunteering at large community events. We used to do First Friday Main Line on a monthly basis for years. Politicians were always there and the local political committees had offices in Ardmore. They were part of the community and the understanding was be part of the community, just refrain from active campaigning.
It is not Lame Duck Saint Theresa’s job to police events and act like a rude and condescending harridan. Truthfully she is as always an embarrassment to her municipality. Truly deplorable. But she was in her element August 9th. But before we get to her interrupting Raj to be on top as it were, we can’t ignore him saying that they have to watch out for the Proud Boys asking for tables at West Whiteland Community Day.
This is the theatre of the absurd. And between Raj and saying extremist groups are coming and Theresa mansplaining, it was quite the side show circus act. The community is only selectively allowed to participate going forward at West Whiteland community events is what I am hearing, which is why for ALL of the events I promote free of charge for communities, if this is what comes to pass I will never promote a community event EVER again in West Whiteland Township. I will also encourage vendors not to participate. Community events = community , not dollar days at the Pravda Circus.
Also, Supervisor Lame Duck Saint Theresa is a political loser. And she has targeted certain residents multiple times while a supervisor, hasn’t she? Remember sidewalk chalk-gate? I mean when when she attends a community event she always has to kick up a fuss doesn’t she?
501 (c)(3)s can allow political parties to participate in community events, as long as there are no endorsements or active politicking from the non-profits or the political parties. Providing information like voter registration etc and information in general on tables while giving out cookies or pretzels or painting faces is no big deal. NO ONE was endorsing anyone at this event as far as the political parties. The local political parties had information tables and offered treats for kids/community. The tables were manned by community volunteers from that community, sometimes kids.
And then there is the whole topic of political candidates attending community events. Well here is the truth: if the PUBLIC is invited to an event, there is right of association, and those pesky all-American things like First Amendment Rights. There were indeed candidates for public office mulling about at this event and at least one sitting judge. They were allowed to be there and wearing a simple button or sticker with their name on it is actually kosher. They were meeting people, hanging out at a public event. It was benign and nice.
Now I went to a lawyer whom I respect greatly for my questions about can political parties have tables at non-profit events as long as they aren’t politicking or endorsing, as well as are politicians and candidates allowed to be there wearing a badge or simple sticker identifying them? The lawyer I asked was Sam Stretton of West Chester.
The simple answer was yes and yes.
So regarding that whole right of association thing. In short, our US Supreme Court has long held that the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, assembly, and petition logically extends to include a “freedom of association.”
But today, politicians tend to overcomplicate the crap out of everything. And that is exactly what Mall Cop Saint Theresa of the Lame Duck did in West Whiteland. Which is yet another reason why once she is no longer a supervisor she should be out of township things altogether. And Raj needs to brush up on common sense.
Theresa before this meeting tried to justify her position of flipping out at the West Whiteland Community Day by posting this:
There were no booths selling Biden wear or Trump gear at West Whiteland Community Day. So again, meet the absurd. Theresa and Raj on this issue are indeed the living embodiment of a lack of knowledge is a dangerous thing. How embarrassing.
Well that’s it for this edition of How the West Whiteland Turns.
Perhaps Theresa could just resign now? But she won’t. She knows better than everyone, right?
Political stupidity is exhausting, but maybe that is why politicians like Theresa Hogan Santalucia does it again and again and again?
Calgon, please take Theresa away. She has free yard sales to plan after all…..
Oh, I know people are tired of my posts about development. I don’t really care because in my opinion, all of this infill development combined with other elements like climate change are a recipe for disaster in Chester County.
I was speaking to someone recently, who had served on a planning commission in the region about all of the development in Chester County recently. They interpreted what I was trying to articulate as I was against new residents in Chester County. And no that couldn’t be further from the case, it’s about the number of residences.
Our communities are on overload. Our infrastructure can’t handle the current pace of development, and neither can things like our hospitals and schools and that’s not fiction. That is a fact.
Infrastructure would be not just the roads. Infrastructure includes things like our first responders and other municipal personnel. A lot of municipalities don’t have rental inspection ordinances, and a lot of these developments are purely rental. The increasing number of rental properties is also creating a more transient community and it is also driving the real estate to the point where people can’t stay in their own communities.
The people getting priced out of their communities are various business service workers, for example. Individuals getting priced out are also like the people that serve on our police forces, in our fire companies, and who teach our kids. In addition there are the elderly who raise their families here and wanted to end their days in their community. Or the younger folks, who may be newly married, and are looking to start and raise their families and put down roots where they were raised.
We have seen what this has done to the Main Line. And frankly, these are just the same developers moving west. They don’t care about our communities and they will pay lip service to whatever, and a lot of municipalities are dumb enough to think that ratables will get them by. And possibly Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome, yes?
From township to township they march. Gobbling up acre after acre. And as acre after acre are gobbled up, in addition to the aforementioned issues I have pointed out about infrastructure stresses and overcrowding the school districts, look at today’s thunderstorms and flooding. Yes, climate change.
Flooding today
All of these townships, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pay lip service to the environmental issues we are seeing increasing day by day. If they really cared they would not only do something about pipelines in Chester County and across the state, they would update the Municipalities Planning Code of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to protect our communities environmentally. But they don’t.
Until then, people from municipality to municipality in Chester County need to go to their local meetings. You can go to the meetings via Zoom, or you can go in person, but you can’t just complain on social media or expect your friendly neighborhood blogger to carry all of your water.
Downingtown PA today
And even if you can’t go to every meeting, that’s fine, we all have lives. Just take a stand and be counted. It’s your right as a resident. Even more important, is to have a basic awareness of what is going on in your municipality and so many people do not.
Ship Road Development
Recently I was somewhat floored when someone asked in a social media forum what was going on around Ship Road and Route 30 in West Whiteland. It was almost incomprehensible that people and even residents of West Whiteland have no idea what has been going on there and what has been planned there for almost 10 years at this point! Even if you don’t go to meetings, that’s a really big development issue that’s been covered in local media.
Ship Road Development
Something else that is cropping up all over are “rain taxes.” Essentially, it’s a direct result of other development and municipalities. It’s been raised as an issue in West Goshen and West Chester Borough, and other places. Well this showed up as also as a current hot topic in Tredyffrin:
Development has consequences. And the fact that we pay for those consequences comes down to simple economics as well because the developers take the profits from their projects and they simply move on to the next municipality leaving all the residents and taxpayers holding the bag. Bag men one and all is ok with all of you?
Ship Road and Route 30: Ground Zero in West Whiteland including development all around this development
Adaptive reuse and preservation is possible. Even with the rampant overdevelopment occurring in West Whiteland Township for example, you have bright, shiny gems of preservation in places like the Benjamin Jacobs house and the Benjamin Pennypacker House as but two examples.
People do love our old structures. They love our open space we need to do more to preserve that. We need to do more to preserve our communities as well as foster a sense of real community.
This development is not sustainable anywhere long-term. You can’t just continue to say build it and they will come because what do we do with all of the people what happens as we are replacing our farm fields with plastic townhouses or apartment buildings?
People on planning commissions and elected officials have drunk the KoolAid to a degree in so many municipalities. And the officials who haven’t drunk the KoolAid are then often outnumbered by those who have. And then the good guys get blamed along with everyone else. It’s a vicious cycle and problems are precipitated by other factors including a lot of people simply do not understand how the planning and zoning processes works and don’t seem to wish to learn.
People love to talk about what they don’t like. But people don’t tell their elected officials and local leaders and they have never attended a meeting. And now there are ways to attend meetings virtually as well as in person. Even I Zoom meetings. If you don’t want to speak in public you can often submit a written comment.
The more land that is gobbled up and the less open space there is and the increase of impervious surface coverage also is important because whether you subscribe to climate change or not, our environment is changing and water, flood waters in particular, will seek their own level. And voila, flooding. All this development means the water simply has no place to go.
So pick your poison people. Take a stand. We live here. We should have greater rights to help decide how our communities are preserved and shaped for the future. Real rights. And until we can get the bozos in Harrisburg to update the Municipalities Planning Code we can and should ask for every other protection we can legally get.
Our elected officials CAN implement conditions of approval that help our communities.
Our elected officials CAN enact rental ordinances.
Our elected officials CAN badger Harrisburg and Washington DC for more meaningful historic and land preservation…including protection for our farmers.
Our elected officials CAN say no to rezoning a property from commercial to residential. (Hey East Whiteland Township are you listening? You CAN say no to rezoning Clews & Strawbridge on Route 30 so there are fewer rental apartments including on Route 30, can’t you? But will you? )
The entirety of Chester County needs protection from overdevelopment. People, find your voices. Hold elected officials and municipalities accountable, but learn how to do it properly.
And above all else don’t become political pawns of political parties. Why do I say that? Simple. These issues are actually non-partisan. Make the politicians endorse all of you and your positions/issues out there. Stop endorsing them because all that accomplishes is you get them elected and then they dump you once they have gotten what they wanted: your vote. Your vote should be earned by them.
Have a good evening.
Please wake up Chester County. Before it’s too late.
